Short latency somatosensory evoked potentials in children with autism.

SSEP were recorded in normal volunteer, autism, MBD and MR groups in order to find electrophysiological evidence of a brain lesion. Peak latencies per 1 m body length, P1/H, P2/H and P3/H in MR, and P3/H in autism, were greater than those in normal controls. The values of interpeak latencies per 1 m body length, P1-P3/H and P2-P3/H in autism and MR, were greater than those in normal controls. These in MBD were not different from in normal controls. The cause of the increase in P1/H in MR is unknown. The increases in P1-P3/H and P2-P3/H suggest that in autism and MR there is brainstem dysfunction. It is not clear whether there is a relationship among autism, MBD and MR.